Mount Bierstadt and Mount Evans via Tour d'Abyss
September 8, 2008
Having been up Bierstadt and across the Sawtooth several times via Guanella Pass, I wasn't too excited when my friend asked to do it again. Then I remembered the Tour d'Abyss route in Roach's book and found some new excitement for the peak. We drove up the Mt. Evans road to Summit Lake, parked, bundled up against the freezing wind and hit the road just in time to see the sun rising over the plains.
Having been up Bierstadt and across the Sawtooth several times via Guanella Pass, I wasn't too excited when my friend asked to do it again. Then I remembered the Tour d'Abyss route in Roach's book and found some new excitement for the peak. We drove up the Mt. Evans road to Summit Lake, parked, bundled up against the freezing wind and hit the road just in time to see the sun rising over the plains.
This is truly a fantastic route. Peace, quiet and lot's of scrambling makes for a great time. Other than the summits we only saw one other person (on the Sawtooth). This route is a little deceptive as it is harder than the stats would make it seem. I think it's because so much of it at high elevation and lot's of scrambling make it tiring. But it is very doable. Anyone who wants a new look at Bierstadt should definitely do this route!